Stackable Bottle

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a bottle container designed with a flattened oblong shape, allowing for easy stacking of multiple bottle containers and storage in narrow pockets etc. The bottle container is also modular, with a lockable, resealable connection between two container elements allowing it to be opened and for the interior to be accessed and cleaned through an opening that is as wide as the bottle container itself.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to liquid containers. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a construction of abottle container that enables ease of storage, stacking, and cleaning.

BACKGROUND

Re-usable water bottles are becoming ever more popular as environmentalawareness of the damage caused by the mass production of disposablebottles has increased, and various designs are being brought to marketevery day.

Despite this, few designs have yet to address two major inconveniencesassociated with re-usable water bottles. Firstly, they are inconvenientto carry, stack, and store due to their traditional rounded shape.Secondly, the interior of the bottles is difficult to clean effectively,since there is only a single inlet that is narrower than the chamberthat needs to be cleaned.

It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a bottle container designed with aflattened oblong shape, allowing for easy stacking of multiple bottlecontainers and storage in narrow pockets etc. The bottle container isalso modular, with a lockable, resealable connection between twocontainer elements allowing it to be opened and for the interior to beaccessed and cleaned through an opening that is as wide as the bottlecontainer itself.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a bottle, comprising: a first container element having aclosed-end and an open end, one or more locking indents being formed onthe interior surfaces adjacent to the open end; a second containerelement having a closed-end and an open-end, the closed-end d having anoutlet formed through it which is connected to a spout disposed on anexterior surface, the open end being configured to form a resealableconnection with the open end of the first container element, and furthercomprising a locking mechanism configured to engage with the one or morelocking indents of the first container element to maintain theresealable connection; and a lid configured to form a second resealableconnection over the spout of the second container element.

When connected together the first container, second container, and lidform a flattened oblong shape with flat outer surfaces and a height andwidth each greater than the depth of the container.

In some embodiments, the second container element further comprises aninlet for maintaining pressure levels as liquid leaves the containerthrough the outlet.

In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is connected to a releasebutton which may be actuated to disengage the locking mechanism from thelocking indents of the first container.

Furthermore, the locking mechanism may comprise a spring biasingopposing protrusions outwards, the protrusions being aligned with thelocking indents when the second container element is connected with thefirst.

In some embodiments, the resealable connections between the firstcontainer element and second container element and between the secondcontainer element and the lid each comprise rubber gaskets forming awaterproof seal with an interior surface of an opposing element.

In some embodiments, the first container element and second containerelement are of equal width and depth.

In some embodiments, the walls of the first container element and thesecond container element are transparent.

In such cases, the bottle may further comprises an opaque rubber sleevecovering the portions of the first container element and secondcontainer element with the resealable connection.

In some embodiments, a detachable rubber grip is provided on theexterior of the first container element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an example configuration of thedisclosed bottle container with the first container element, secondcontainer element, and lid separated from one another.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the second container element andlid viewed from below with the interior components and locking mechanismvisible.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second containerelement to show the workings of the locking mechanism in more detail.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the example configuration of thebottle container in an assembled state.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of multiple bottle containers ofthe example configuration piled together in a stack.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and thedetailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the artwill readily recognize that the above figures are examples and thatother architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, andelements/functions can be provided and implemented without departingfrom the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth inthe claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments toillustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are providedto illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limitedto any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerousalternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by theclaims.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, theinvention may be practiced according to the claims without some or allof these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or moreof the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as thesingular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The present disclosure provides a stackable bottle container constructedin a flattened shape and formed of two container elements forming aresealable connection such that the container can be opened and easilyaccessed and cleaned from an opening that is as wide as the containerchamber itself.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an example configuration of the bottle container100 is shown in an exploded view with the first container element 102,second container element 104, and lid 106 separated from one another.

As shown, each of the first and second container elements each have aclosed end and an open end. The open ends have an identical crosssection which is wider than it is deep, such that when connectedtogether they formed a flat square container that can easily be stackedin multiples during transport or slipped into the flat pocket of asatchel or rucksack for convenience.

In the present example, the resealable connection between the firstcontainer element 102 and the second container element 104 is providedby rubber gasket 108, which protrudes from the bottom of the secondcontainer element 104 and is aligned with the internal surfaces of thefirst container element 102, forming a leak proof chamber with it whenthe two are connected together.

The second container element has an outlet which feeds through todrinking spout 110, and the interior of the lid 106 (which is showndesigned in a shape complete the smooth oblong shape of the bottlecontainer when placed over the second container element 104) is providedwith a second rubber gasket element 112 which forms a resealable leakproof connection in a similar manner. To drink from the container, auser simply removes the lid 106 from the second container element 104,breaking the seal, and puts their lips to the water spout 110 to drinkthe fluid in the container 100. An air inlet 122 is also provided atopthe second container element 104 to regulate pressure within thecontainer as the user drinks.

To prevent the first and second container elements from coming apartduring use or transport, a lock mechanism is also provided. The lockmechanism is installed in the second container element 104 and in thepresent example is in the form of a pair of spring-loaded protrusions114 which are biased outwards by a central spring mechanism. Acorresponding pair of locking indents 116 are provided on the internalwalls of the first container element 102. When the two containerelements are connected together, the protrusions 114 align with and slotinto the indents 116, locking the two elements together until a releasemechanism, in the present example the button 118, is actuated.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the locking mechanism of the presentexample can be seen in more detail, with the spring 120 shown by thedashed line in FIG. 2 and also in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 .

As can be seen in FIG. 3 , there is a lock and release mechanismdisposed on either side of the container. Each release button 118 ismechanically connected to a corresponding protrusion 114 such thatactuation of the button 118 causes the protrusions 114 to be retractedinwards, unlocking it from the corresponding indent 116. A centrallydisposed spring 120 biases both protrusions 114 outwards, ensuring thatthey return to their extended positions after external pressure isremoved from the button 118.

FIG. 3 also shows how the rubber gasket 108 forms a seal with the innersurfaces of the first container element 102.

Returning to FIG. 1 , the example configuration shown has a portion 124of the container body made from a transparent material such as a clearplastic. This is visually appealing to may users and can also allow themto determine how much fluid remains in the container at a glance. Thepresent example also has a rubber sleeve 126 disposed over thetransparent portions to cover at least the portion of the containerwhere the two container elements are connected, maintaining a simple andelegant aesthetic.

FIG. 4 shows the whole bottle container of the example construction asit would appear with the first container 102, second container 104, andlid 106 assembled together and sealed.

FIG. 5 shows a stack of the containers. As can be seen, they can easilyand stably be placed atop one another making efficient use of space.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one havingordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. Whilespecific configurations of the bottle container have been described in aspecific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it isunderstood that the present invention can be applied to a wide varietyof solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. Thereare many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention hereindescribed are merely illustrative of the application of the principlesof the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustratedembodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, whichthemselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottle, comprising: a first container elementhaving a closed end and an open end, one or more locking indents beingformed on the interior surfaces adjacent to the open end; a secondcontainer element having a closed end and an open end, the closed endhaving an outlet formed through it which is connected to a spoutdisposed on an exterior surface, the open end being configured to form aresealable connection with the open end of the first container element,and further comprising a locking mechanism configured to engage with theone or more locking indents of the first container element to maintainthe resealable connection; and a lid configured to form a secondresealable connection over the spout of the second container element;wherein when connected together the first container, second container,and lid form a flattened oblong shape with flat outer surfaces and aheight and width each greater than the depth of the container.
 2. Abottle according to claim 1, wherein the second container elementfurther comprises an inlet for maintaining pressure levels as liquidleaves the container through the outlet.
 3. A bottle according to claim1, wherein the locking mechanism is connected to a release button whichmay be actuated to disengage the locking mechanism from the lockingindents of the first container.
 4. A bottle according to claim 3,wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring biasing opposingprotrusions outwards, the protrusions being aligned with the lockingindents when the second container element is connected with the first.5. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the resealable connectionsbetween the first container element and second container element andbetween the second container element and the lid each comprise rubbergaskets forming a waterproof seal with an interior surface of anopposing element.
 6. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the firstcontainer element and second container element are of equal width anddepth.
 7. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the firstcontainer element and the second container element are transparent.
 8. Abottle according to claim 7, wherein the bottle further comprises anopaque rubber sleeve covering the portions of the first containerelement and second container element with the resealable connection. 9.A bottle according to claim 1, wherein a detachable rubber grip isprovided on the exterior of the first container element.